George Emerson Brewer
Encyclopedia
George Emerson Brewer, M.D. (1861-1939) was an American
surgeon
and urologist remembered for the eponymous Brewer infarcts
.
, the son of physician Francis B. Brewer. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1881 and studied medicine at the University of Buffalo and the College of Medicine at Harvard
, graduating with a M.D.
degree in 1885. He worked at the Columbia Hospital for Women
and Johns Hopkins Hospital
before starting work in New York
in 1887. He also began teaching at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
. He became attending surgeon at the Roosevelt
and Presbyterian
Hospitals in New York. In 1893 he married Effie Leighton Brown of Chester, Pennsylvania
.
He was the founder, and first president, of the Society of Clinical Surgery, and was president of the American Surgical Association. He was president of the Clinical Congress of Surgeons of North America, and became surgical director of the Presbyterian Hospital in 1913. He was the author of Textbook on Surgery and Surgical Diagnosis. Hamilton College awarded him the degree of LL.D. in 1916, and Columbia University awarded him Sc.D. (hon)
in 1929. He became an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
in 1920.
In 1917 he, along with 22 other doctors and 65 nurses from the Presyterian Base Unit of the American Red Cross
, travelled to France on active duty in the First World War. Brewer became the Director of Base Hospital 2 in Etretat
. In August 1917 he was part of an American surgical team, which also included Harvey Cushing
, who tried to save Lt. Edward Revere Osler, the only son of Sir William Osler
, who was wounded at the 3rd battle of Ypres. In 1918 he became Consulting Surgeon to the 42nd Division of the American Expeditionary Force
, and later became Chief Consultant to the First Army.
He retired in 1928, and travelled to France
to study anthropology
, and was made Research Associate of Somatic Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History
on his return to the United States. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer
in 1937, which was treated by radiotherapy for two years; he deteriorated in December 1939, and died on 24 December 1939 at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and urologist remembered for the eponymous Brewer infarcts
Brewer infarcts
Brewer infarcts are a histological finding found in renal disease. They can indicate pyelonephritis.They are named after George Emerson Brewer....
.
Biography
George Brewer was born on 28 July 1861 in Westfield, New YorkWestfield (town), New York
Westfield is a town in the western part Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 5,232 at the 2000 census. Westfield is also the name of a village within the town.- History :...
, the son of physician Francis B. Brewer. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1881 and studied medicine at the University of Buffalo and the College of Medicine at Harvard
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, graduating with a M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1885. He worked at the Columbia Hospital for Women
Columbia Hospital for Women
The Columbia Hospital for Women was a hospital located in Washington, D.C. Originally opening in 1866 as a health-care facility for wives and widows of Civil War soldiers, it moved in 1870 from Thomas Circle to its later location at 2425 L Street, NW in the West End neighborhood. The Columbia...
and Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
before starting work in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1887. He also began teaching at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
. He became attending surgeon at the Roosevelt
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, an academic affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, is a 1,076-bed, full-service community and tertiary care hospital serving New York City’s Midtown West, Upper West Side and parts of Harlem....
and Presbyterian
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital is a prominent university hospital in New York City affiliated with two Ivy League medical schools: Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and Cornell University's Weill Medical College. It is composed of two distinct medical centers, Columbia...
Hospitals in New York. In 1893 he married Effie Leighton Brown of Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
.
He was the founder, and first president, of the Society of Clinical Surgery, and was president of the American Surgical Association. He was president of the Clinical Congress of Surgeons of North America, and became surgical director of the Presbyterian Hospital in 1913. He was the author of Textbook on Surgery and Surgical Diagnosis. Hamilton College awarded him the degree of LL.D. in 1916, and Columbia University awarded him Sc.D. (hon)
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in 1929. He became an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland...
in 1920.
In 1917 he, along with 22 other doctors and 65 nurses from the Presyterian Base Unit of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, travelled to France on active duty in the First World War. Brewer became the Director of Base Hospital 2 in Etretat
Étretat
Étretat is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It is a tourist and farming town situated c. 32 km northeast of Le Havre, at the junction of the D940, D11 and D139 roads. It's located on the coast of the Pays de Caux area.-The...
. In August 1917 he was part of an American surgical team, which also included Harvey Cushing
Harvey Cushing
Harvey Williams Cushing, M.D. , was an American neurosurgeon and a pioneer of brain surgery, and the first to describe Cushing's syndrome...
, who tried to save Lt. Edward Revere Osler, the only son of Sir William Osler
William Osler
Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet was a physician. He was one of the "Big Four" founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the first Professor of Medicine and founder of the Medical Service there. Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet (July 12, 1849 – December 29, 1919) was a physician. He was...
, who was wounded at the 3rd battle of Ypres. In 1918 he became Consulting Surgeon to the 42nd Division of the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
, and later became Chief Consultant to the First Army.
He retired in 1928, and travelled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to study anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and was made Research Associate of Somatic Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
on his return to the United States. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis...
in 1937, which was treated by radiotherapy for two years; he deteriorated in December 1939, and died on 24 December 1939 at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York.